Dive Review of Atlantis Dive Resorts in
Philippines/Puerto Galera

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Atlantis Dive Resorts, Jun, 2013, by Michael J. Millet, CA, US ( Top Contributor 96 reports with 61 Helpful votes). Report 7019.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	In route to Atlantis Puerto Galera, I spent the night at a hotel near the Manila airport. The resort coordinated well with the hotel for a timely pick up and transfer to PG via a 2 hour van ride and a 1 hour boat ride. After arriving at the resort, I received a thorough orientation and tour of the facilities. There is a well organized dive gear area with large rinse tanks for gear and cameras. There is a large camera room with several power outlets in both 110 and 220 voltage, compressed air and lint-free towels. The camera room can get a bit stuffy. The dive schedule was posted daily. While I was at Atlantis PG, there were only 6-8 divers so the process worked OK. But with 50-60 divers, it might get a bit hectic with up to 10 6-pack skiffs leaving at the same time. In this regard, the dive trip schedule was too hurried with dives set for 9AM, 11AM, 2PM and 4PM. I understand that consideration is being given to starting the dive schedule earlier, say 8AM, allowing more time between dives also allowing a staggered dive times if there are several dive skiffs going out. The dives are for 1 tank except Verde Island, which is a 3-tank, all day trip. The skiffs carry no more than 6 divers with a dive guide. There is no cover on the skiff and no tank holders. No camera rinse on the skiffs. Dive gear and cameras are place on the floor of the skiff increasing the possibility of damage --- so watch your stuff. The dive trips are usually short -- maybe 10 minutes max. The dive guides are friendly and helpful; they know the dive sites and habitat. They are quite accomplished at finding small critters such as blue ring octopus and pygmy seahorses. The rooms at the resort are spacious and clean with plenty of shelf space. The food at the restaurant was very good with made-to-order breakfast and a varied menu for lunch and dinner. The soups were especially savory. The restaurant also offered a DYI stirfry with a variety of vegetables, sauces, meats and seafood. A major negative for the Atlantis Resort is the drinking water situation. The water from the tap in the room is not potable. The resort offers bottled water in the room frig for a charge. Otherwise, drinkable water is only available at the main bar or at the dive shop. This is a large resort spread out on several levels; thus it can be a rather long walk for some water. The resort should either provide free bottled water in the rooms or have bottled water units at several locations throughout the resort. A complimentary water bottle would be a nice gesture also. During my stay, the co-owner (Gordon) was at the resort and had dinner just 2 tables from our small group. We noticed that he did not take even a couple of minutes to greet us, introduce himself, inquire about our stay or thank us for our business. Very poor PR. Another gripe is that the resort does not take credit card for staff tips. As a result, I had to walk into town and withdraw cash from an ATM. Very inconvenient. There was no prior notice that credit cards could not used for this purpose resulting in this last minute cash withdrawal. Overall, the staff was very friendly, helpful and accommodating. I had a very good experience at Atlantis Puerto Galera and recommended it to any diver especially those interested in macro photography. I will make a return visit.
Websites	Atlantis Dive Resorts
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Galapagos, Solomon Islands, PNG, GBR, Vanuatu, Palau, Philippines, Indonesia, Yap, Kosrae, Truk, Fiji, Socorros, All over the Caribbean.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp	84-86°F / 29-30°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	40-120 Ft/ 12-37 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No Deco
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Puerto Galera (actually Sabang Beach) is great for macro photography -- nudibranchs, pygmy seahorse,flamboyant cuttlefish, mandarinfish, shrimp, and blue ring octopus. No large pelagics and only the occasional turtle. The dive shop has spacious camera rinse tanks but the dive skiffs do not. While diving, you must pay attention that you camera gear does not get under foot or dive gear since the latter is piled in the middle of the skiff after each dive.

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Dive Review of Atlantis Dive Resorts in Philippines/Puerto Galera

Atlantis Dive Resorts, Jun, 2013,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Atlantis Dive Resorts in
Philippines/Puerto Galera